(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality gather at the Park building at the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality make their way to the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown takes a knee as he shows his support of demonstrators protesting against police brutality on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in downtown Salt Lake City, at the Salt Lake City Public Safety Building as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown takes a knee as he shows his support of demonstrators protesting against police brutality on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in downtown Salt Lake City, at the Salt Lake City Public Safety Building as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown, center, takes a knee as he is joined by Robert Jenkins, left, and Aristide Gateretse, showing support of demonstrators protesting against police brutality on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in downtown Salt Lake City, at the Salt Lake City Public Safety Building as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protest against police brutality at the Salt Lake City Public Safety Building on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protest against police brutality on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in downtown Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protest against police brutality on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in downtown Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protest against police brutality at the Salt Lake City Public Safety Building on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protest against police brutality on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in downtown Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protest against police brutality at the Salt Lake City Public Safety Building on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown takes a knee as he shows his support of demonstrators protesting against police brutality on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in downtown Salt Lake City, at the Salt Lake City Public Safety Building as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protest against police brutality on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in downtown Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protest against police brutality at the Salt Lake City Public Safety Building on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protest against police brutality at the Salt Lake City Public Safety Building on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protest against police brutality on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in downtown Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Salt Lake City officers take a knee as toe show his support of demonstrators protesting against police brutality on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in downtown Salt Lake City, at the Salt Lake City Public Safety Building as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protest against police brutality at the Salt Lake City Public Safety Building on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protest against police brutality at the Salt Lake City Public Safety Building on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality make their way to the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality make their way to the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality make their way to the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality make their way to the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality make their way to the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality make their way to the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality make their way to the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality make their way to the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality make their way to the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality make their way to the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality make their way to the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality make their way to the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality make their way to the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) A large crowd of demonstrators gather at President's Circle at the University of Utah as protests in Salt Lake City continue on June 3, 2020
((Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Diane Bahati, leads the crowd as they chant in front of the Park Building at the University of Utah, during a demonstration on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Protestors lie down for 9 minutes in memory of George Floyd during a demonstration at the Public Safety Building, Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
((Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown kneels in silence for 9 minutes in memory of George Floyd with a group of demonstrators at the Public Safety Building, Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality gather at the Park building at the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality gather at the Park building at the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality gather at the Park building at the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality gather at the Park building at the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality gather at the Park building at the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality gather at the Park building at the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality gather at the Park building at the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality gather at the Park building at the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality gather at the Park building at the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Protesters march down from Capitol Hill during a George Floyd demonstration, June 3, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality lay down in silence in honor of George Floyd on President's Circle at the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Protesters gather at the Park Building at the University of Utah, Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Protesters kneel down in silence for 9 minutes in remembrance of George Floyd as they gather at the State Capitol for a demonstration, Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Protesters gather at the State Capitol for a demonstration, Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Protesters march down from Capitol Hill during a George Floyd demonstration, June 3, 2020.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Protesters gather at the State Capitol for a demonstration, Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality lay down in silence in honor of George Floyd on President's Circle at the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality lay down in silence in honor of George Floyd on President's Circle at the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Protesters kneel down in silence for 9 minutes in remembrance of George Floyd as they gather at the State Capitol for a demonstration, Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Protesters kneel down in silence for 9 minutes in remembrance of George Floyd as they gather at the State Capitol for a demonstration, Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality lay down in silence in honor of George Floyd on President's Circle at the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Salt Lake City, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
((Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Diane Bahati leads the group in a chant as they march to the University of Utah during a George Floyd demonstration on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Nadine Bahati leads the group of protesters in a chant as they head up 400 South to the University off Utah during a George Floyd demonstration, Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Protesters take a knee in front of the Park Building at the University of Utah, during a demonstration, Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
((Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Diane Bahati, leads the group in a chant at the Salt Lake Public Safety Building, during a George Floyd demonstration, Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) A large group of demonstrators protesting against police brutality travel back to downtown Salt Lake City after making the trek to the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Protestors lie down for 9 minutes in memory of George Floyd, during a demonstration at the Public Safety Building, Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) A large group of demonstrators protesting against police brutality travel back to downtown Salt Lake City after making the trek to the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, as the initially set 8 p.m. weeklong curfew was removed.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Police Chief Mike Brown kneels down in silence along with the crowd for 9 minutes in memory of George Floyd, during a demonstration at the Public Safety Building, Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Protesters kneel down in silence for 9 minutes in remembrance of George Floyd as they gather at the State Capitol for a demonstration, Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators march up 500 South late in the evening after a peaceful protest on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators march up 500 South late in the evening after a peaceful protest on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) An officer takes a knee with a group of demonstrators protesting against police brutality in downtown Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) People chant "hands up, don't shoot," as demonstrators protest against police brutality in downtown Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Protesters follow the marchers up 500 South in Salt Lake City after a peaceful protest on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality lay down in silence in honor of George Floyd on on the street outside the Salt Lake City Public Safety Building on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Demonstrators protesting against police brutality lay down in silence in honor of George Floyd on on the street outside the Salt Lake City Public Safety Building on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Protesters chant as they march up 300 South, Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Protesters leave the Public Safety Building in Salt Lake City as they start out for the University of Utah on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Local residents cheer on protesters as the March up 300 South in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Protesters chant as they march up 300 South in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Protesters lie down in silence for 9 minutes in memory of George Floyd, during a demonstration at the Public Safety Building, Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Posters, flowers and candles line the steps of the Salt Lake City and County Building late at the evening after all the protesters were gone, Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Police Chief Mike Brown and some of his officers kneel down in silence along with the crowd for 9 minutes in memory of George Floyd, during a demonstration at the Public Safety Building, Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Posters, flowers and candles line the steps of the Salt Lake City and County Building late at the evening after all the protesters were gone, Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Posters, flowers and candles line the steps of the Salt Lake City and County Building as a memorial, Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Protesters lie down in silence for 9 minutes in memory of George Floyd, during a demonstration at the Public Safety Building, Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
Diane Bahati didn’t organize the protest at City Hall on Wednesday evening. No one really knew who did, but the people came, and she took over.
She led chants, telling the crowd of a few hundred people to say George Floyd’s name, and then she asked everyone to lie down. For eight minutes. Just like he did.
It’s just 60 seconds, eight times over, but when you’re living it, it feels like a long time to be facedown on the ground. “I know you’re uncomfortable,” Bahati said, but, she added, so was Floyd.
That’s why, she said, beckoning everyone to rise, the police who participated in his death should be charged with first-degree murder. The crowd erupted in cheers.
Police brutality “is a problem. And if we don’t do something, it’s only going to get worse,” Darryl Ifote said after the crowd walked to the Salt Lake City police headquarters from City Hall. “Let me tell you, a revolution is coming, whether you like it or not.”
Along with the two groups of protesters, police and the National Guard showed up in Utah’s capital for yet another day of rallying against racial inequality and police brutality.
It has been a week and a half since Floyd’s Memorial Day death. Bystanders recorded video of Floyd saying he couldn’t breathe, spurring protests around the nation. Some turned violent, including a demonstration in Salt Lake City on Saturday.
All four officers involved in Floyd’s death have been charged.
Group is now marching, chanting "Peaceful protest!" And SLCPD officers are marching with them. pic.twitter.com/oOPiJ5zecD
— Paighten🆒Harkins (@PaightenHarkins) June 3, 2020
Wednesday’s City Hall protest started with a few hundred people marching from Washington Square to the Salt Lake City police headquarters while chanting “Peaceful protest” and “This is what democracy looks like.”
Police walked with them. Some addressed the crowd.
“We’re sad about the loss of George Floyd,” Police Chief Mike Brown said. “We denounce those actions of those officers. We stand for racial equality.”
Not all protesters were receptive to the chief’s words, with shouts cutting off his speech. “What is your police department going to do?” one person yelled.
The Party for Socialism and Liberation, which organized a protest earlier in the week, distributed flyers with demands that included defunding of the city police department and a reopening of cases involving people fatally shot by officers. The flyer also encouraged people not to kneel with police, claiming it was an effort to “garner media sympathy,” only for officers to “tear gas the crowd moments later.”
SLCPD Chief Brown just tried to speak to the crowd, saying he was disgusted by what happened to Floyd in Minneapolis. Some people pretty upset with officers speaking. pic.twitter.com/jci7sUEd0c
— Paighten🆒Harkins (@PaightenHarkins) June 3, 2020
Still, most of the crowd joined Brown in kneeling.
From police headquarters, about 1,000 people marched through the evening heat for two-and-a-half miles to the University of Utah as bystanders watched from balconies and motorists offered supportive honks.
Officers assured the demonstrators that they could gather anywhere they wanted as long as they remained peaceful. Police also blocked intersections to ensure people could march through the city safely.
At the U., they gathered on the steps of the John R. Park Building, spilling out across the green space in front of it. They laid prone in remembrance of Floyd a second time. More speakers took the megaphone.
The group chanted again, and, at one point, the words “Black Lives Matter” echoed across the Presidents Circle.
A speaker said to bring that energy on Thursday. And Friday. And the day after that. And the day after that, because it’s working.
Demonstrators, after walking 6 miles in the sweltering heat, finished Wednesday at City Hall, vowing to come back again for more. Before then, they needed rest. “Where are we going?” a demonstrator called out. “Home!”
Meanwhile, hundreds had also gathered at the state Capitol and marched down State Street, where police also helped redirect traffic.
The Capitol campus remains closed after a state of emergency declaration by Gov. Gary Herbert on Monday. Moments before Wednesday’s protest began, Alliance for a Better Utah issued a statement calling on the governor to recall the National Guard presence in Salt Lake City.
“Utah should not respond to protests against police brutality by maintaining an unnecessary and increased law enforcement presence, or dictating to [protesters] how and when to raise their voices,” executive director Chase Thomas said in a news release.
The group also asked Herbert to recall the 200 National Guard troops he deployed to Washington, D.C.